Matrix-composing stick



Dec. 17, 1929. H. R. FREUND MATRIX coMPosiNG STICK 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 13. 1928 Dec. 17, 1929. H. R. FREUND MATRIX COMPOSING STICK Filed NOV. l5. 1928 2 Sheeis-Sheetl 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 13ans' earner reim;

HERMAN R. FREUND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSCGNOR TO NTERTYPE CORPORA- TJON, OF BBQOESLYN, NEW YORK,

A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MATRIX-COMPSNG STICK Application led November 13, 1928.

'lhe present invention relates to improvements in typographical machines and more particularly to those of the class shown and described in Letters Patr-nitllo. 436,532 granted September lt), 1890, to Mergenthaler wherein matrices bearing type forming characters and spacers are released from their places of storage in the machine by the operation of a keyboard and are automatically assembled in lines, and each line is transferred automatically during the operation of the machine into a so-called first elevator which lowers the line to the casting position in front of a mold in which a type bar or slug is cast against the characters of the matrices in the line, the line of matrices and spacers being subsequently removed from said elel and the matrices and spacers returned to their places of storage automatically by the appropriate mechanisms usual in machines of this class.

ln con'iposing lines for ordinary printed matter, the supply of matrices usually contained in the machine, especially When the machine contains a plurality of matrix magazines, is sutlicient to meet the demands as to sizes and styles of type for such printed matter, but some classes of printed matter, especially dr raising matter, call for headings or lines made up of artistic, display or other odd or distinctive characters to contrast with the body of the printed matter, and While line casting machines of this class as 110W constructed usually provide for the automatic assembling of matrices having odd or unusual characters, it imgracticable to carry'in th machine the great variety ot' matrices that would be required to moet all demands.

It has been proposed to meet these requirements by providing a special machine employing special matrices for the casting of imusual type faces or characters, but the use of a special machine for the purpose is objectionable it imposes upon the print shop the expense ot such a machine fo casting the unusual or special lines of type in addition to a line casting machine of the usual class for casting` the usual or ordinary lines of type. It has also been the practice, to some ext-ent, for print shops to compose the special or unusual serial No. 319,085.

lines from ordinary foundry type, such lines to be assembled in the printing frame With the usual type slugs cast in the ordinary line casting machine, but after such mixed type have served their purpose, it is necessary to separate the foundry type from the lead type slugs which Were cast in the line casting mal chin-e, in order that the lead slugs may be returned to the metal pot of the machine and the foundry type distributed to theirI proper receptacles in the type cases, and as this Work was necessarily performed by hand, it was slow, laborious and expensive. Moreover, foundry type Wears, due to repeated use thereof in printing, and hence there is no certainty that tie type faces thereof will be at the proper full height occupied by the type faces of type slugs freshly cast in the molds of line casting machines against matrices Which are positioned so accurately in such machines as to always insure the production of slugs the type faces of which are at the full and proper height. Consequently, if ordinary foundry type are mixed with type slugs cast in the usual line casting machines, lack of uniformity in the impression made therefrom will result.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide novel means whereby matrices of the usual standard form used in the usual line casting machines butl bearing special or odd designs of type forming characters and stored outside of the machine, may be composed by hand, either with or Without spacers, on a matrix composing stick or member, and the latter may be fitted or applied to the usual irst elevator ot the ordinary line casting machine in such a manner that it will aline the matrix line thereon with the matrix channelin said elevator, to which the matrix line may be transferred from said stick or member into the iirst elevator and said stick or member removed from the latter, the first elevator then operating in its usual Way to convey the matrix line to the usual casting position in front of the mold in the machine so that a cast may be made therefrom in the usual Way during the usual automatic operation of the machine. After the cast has been made from the matrix line, it

may be either returned to the stick or member on which it was composed, by re-applying said stick or member to the first elevator and transferring the matrices or the matrices and spacers thereto, and the matrices may be removed from the stick or member and distributed by hand to the type case or cases from which they were drawn, or in certain instances, the matrix line may be left in the lirst elevator after the cast has been made therefrom so that the matrices composing the line may be separated from the spacers and carried through the usual distributing mechanism of the machine and eventually brought into the usual pi stacker from which they may be removed at leisure and the spacers, if such were used in the line and separated from the matrices, will be automatically conveyed 'to the usual magazine therefor contained in the machine, by the operation of the usual mechanisms of the machine.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features oi' novelty being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanyingdrawings Fig. l is a front elevation, partly brel-:en away, of a portion of the first elevator of a line casting machine of the class hereinbefore referred to, showing a matrix composing stick or member embodying` the present invention applied thereto and indicating` by the full and dotted lines the manner in which a matrix line is transferred from the composing stick or member to the first elevator;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 represents a transverse section .through a portion of the first elevator and the composing stick or member, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrow; A

Fig. a represents a transverse section taken throught-he first elevator on the line l-i of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrow, the matrix line including spacers being shown in position in the iirst elevator in full lines;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cooperating portions of the first elevator' and the matrix composing stick or member, illustrating the manner in which the latter may be applied to and detached from the first elevator;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing another embodiment of the matrix composing stick or member applied to the first elevator of a line casting machine;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. (i, with a portion thereofV broken away;

Fig. 8 represents a transverse section through the matrix composing stick or member and the matrix line thereon, the section being taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9 represents a section taken transversely through the matrix composing stick or member and the matrix line thereon, the section being taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. l0 represents a transverse section through a matrix 'composing stick like that shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, but modified to show different means for supporting the matrices thereon.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several iigures.

rlhe present invention is applicable generally to line casting machines which employ a channelled member, such Vas the first elevator of machines of the class hereinbefore referred to, which receives a matrix line, composed of matrices alone er matrices and spacers, and conveys the matrix line to casting position where a type bar or slug is cast against the type forming characters in the matrices. The preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail, but itis to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown since equivalent constructions may be used and such are included within the scope of the claims.

rlhe invention is shown herein as adapted for use in connection with a line casting machine of the class shown and described in the hirergenthaler patent hereinbefore referred to, 1 representing the head of the so-called lirst elevator which receives the matrix lines and lowers them to casting position in front of a mold, and 2 and 8 representing the aws of the rrirst elevator which are spaced apart and form a channel in which the matrix line is received, these being usually formed with oppositely located ledges or rails 4ron which the upper lugs or ears m of the matrices M are adapted to rest whereby the matrices are supported in the elevator, and the elevator jaws being also usually formed with oppositely located ledges or rails 5 located above the matrix supporting rails on which the out-turned ears s on the upper ends of the usual spacers S are adapted to rest and by which the spacers are supported in the elevator. is also usual to form the jaws of the first elevator with opposed longitudinal recesses (i located above the spacer supporting rails 5 to permiL matrices to be supported in high alinement in the elevator, as when the forward lower lugs or feet m of the matrices rest on the rail .7. The first elevator usually embodies a slide which is movable vertically in so-called vise frame, this vise frame being pivoted toward its lower end so that it may be swung forwardly out of its normal operative position into a position where the right hand or matrix receiving end of the elevator is exposed and accessible, such mounting of the first elevator on the pivoted vise frame being shown and described in the Mergenthaler patent referred to.

The present invention provides a matrix composing stick or member which is normally separate from the machine and may be handled manually, either by the operator of the machine orby a compositor for the assembling or composing of a matrix line thereon from matrices the form and construction of which conforms with the standard matrices commonly used in line casting machines of this class but which bear type forming letters or characters which are of an artistic, display or odd kind such as would not ordinarily be contained in the machine but might be contained in a cabinet or case and would be suitable for the composition of lines to serve as headings or the like in printed matter, these odd character matrices being selected and composed by hand on the composing bar or member, either with or without depending expansible spacers like or similar to those generally used in line casting machines of the cla-ss referred to, so that they are suspended and hang from its other side. The composing stick or member is so constructed that it may be readily attached or applied to the matrix receiving end of the first elevator of the machine, after the vise frame has been released and swung forwardly, and when the composing stick or member is so applied to the first elevator, it will aline the supporting means on the matrices or matrices and spacers constituting the line with the corresponding supporting means in the first elevator, and the matrix line may be transferred from the composing stick by simply sliding the line by hand in a direction from the composing bar toward the first elevator. After the vise frame has been restored to its normal position and the machine has been started into operation, the line thus introduced into the first elevator is lowered to the casting level and nstified in the usual manner while occupying a position in front of the slug casting mold, a slug is cast in the mold against the character faces of the matrix line, and the continued operation of the machine antomatically raises the first elevator and thus removes the matrix line from casting position. The matrix line may be permitted to remain in the first elevator', in which case the continued operation of the machine will automatically separate the matrices from the spacers, if spacers were used in the line and will pass the matrices through the distributing mechanism of the machine and bring the odd matrices which compose the line into the usual pi-stacker of the machine, from which they may be removed at any time, while the continued operation of the machine will antomatically return the spacers, if any, to the usual space box, as takes place in the ordinary operation of a machine of this class, or, after a cast has been made from the matrix line containing special odd character nia-trices, the vise frame of the machine may be released and swung for iardly, the composing stick on which the matrix line compoy or one similar to it, may be fitted or applied to the right hand or matrix receiving end of the first elevator, and the matrix line may be transferred from the first elevator to the composing stick by sliding the line by hand in the appropriate direction, after which the composing stick which will then contain the matrix line may be detached from the first elevator, and the line disassembled and the matrices distributed to the places in the case or cabinet from which they were drawn.

ln the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l to 5 inclusive, the composing stick or member comprises a bar 8 which is substantially V-form in cross section to conform with the li-shaped recess commonly used in the standard matrices employed in line casting machines, and the sides of this bar are formed with longitudinal teeth which conform with and are adapted to receive the teeth m2 commonly formed in the two sides of the V-shaped recess in the top there-of. lach matrix to be used on the composing stick may be engaged on the bar 8 by inserting it at the end of the bar 8 in such a manner that the teeth m2 of the matrix engage between the proper teeth on the bar 8, the right hand or matrix receiving end of the toothed bar 8 or the teeth thereon, being preferably bevelled or tapered as at 8a to facilitate the insertion of the matrices thereon. Vhen the matrices are assembled on the bar 8, they will be snpported or suspended thereon by the teeth m2 of the matrices which interengage the teeth on the bar so that they hang from the under side of the stick, it being understood that the matrices are applied to the composing stick in the order in which they are to be presented in the matrix line. The composing stick, in this form of the invention, is adapted to receive the usual standard spacers which may be inserted at the appropriate places in the matrix line during its composition, and for this purpose, a channelled plate 9 is provided above the matrix supporting bar 8, this plate 9 being channelled at its opposite edges to form rails 10 to receive the outturned supporting lugs s which are provided at the npper ends of spacers of the standard type nsed in line casting means of this class and thereby suspend the spacers so that they hang from the under side of the stick. The channels of the plate 9 are open at the right hand or spacer receiving end in Fig. i so that the lugs s on the spacers may be readily inserted into the channels, the spacers being usually formed with an untoothcd notch or recess s in its npper edge whichwill clear the toothed matrix supporting bar 8. rlhe spacer supporting plate 9 is located at such an eleva-tion with respect to the matrix supporting bar 8 that the composing stick will support the matrices CFL and the spacers at levels corresponding with the levels of the matrix supporting rails 4 and the spacer supporting rails 5 in the first elevator, the bar 8 and plate 9 being shown so spaced by the interposed spacing strip 11 and the bar 8 and plate 9 being secured together by a suitable number of screws 12. The outer forward face of the plate 9 is preferably provided with a scale 13, preferably graduated in ems and half ems to assist the compositor in determining the number of matrices that can be composed into each line on the composing stick.

The composing stick is provided with means for removably attaching it to the first elevator in a manner which will aline the lower edges of the upper lugs m of matrices thereon with the matrix supporting rails 4 of the first elevator and will aline the lower edges of the supporting lugs s of the spacers supported thereon with the rails 5 of the Erst.

elevator, such means, in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, comprising a plate 14 which may be securet to the top of the plate 9 and is of such a width that its edges 15 are adapted to slide longitudinally into the high alinement recesses 6 in the walls of the matrix channel formed between the elevator jaws, the edges 15 of the plate thus serving to limit the height at which the composing stick is placed in the first elevator and to register the supporting lugs of the matrices and spacers transversely with respect to their supporting rails in the first elevator, and the composing stick is also provided, in this form of the invention, with a holder 16 which may be made up of sheet metal bent into channel form so that its sides will enter the channel or space between` the elevator jawsQ and 3, the upper edges of the sides of this holder being turned outwardly to form flanges or rails 17 which will overli'e and rest on the tops of the elevator jaws, substantially as shown in Figure 3. The opposite sides of the holder 16 may be rigidly secured in proper spaced relation by rivets 18 extending therethrough and having spacing sleeves 19 fitted thereover and filling the space between the sides of the holder. The holder may be secured rigidly to the plate 14 by a suitable number of rivets 182l as shown in Figure 3. The extent to which the composing stick is inserted into the matrix receiving end of the first elevator is limited by suitable stops or shoulders.- Preferably these stops are formed by the end Q0 of the channelled plate 9 which terminates short of the end of the holder 16 so that the latter may be inserted into the spacebetween the elevater jaws for a distance sufficient to support the first elevator.

the composing stick when the end 20 of the plate 9 abuts against the adjacent end wall of the elevator.

l/Vhen a composing stick as shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive is thus applied to the matrix receiving end of the matrix channel of the first elevator, the toothed bar 8 will support the matrices at such a level that the lower edges of the upper supporting lugs m of the matrices will be level and alined with the matrix supporting rails 4 in the elevator and the rails 10 will support the spacers at such a level that the supporting lugs s of the spacers contained in the composing stick will be level and alined with the spacer supporting rails 5 in the elevator, and the matrix line, together with any spacers therein, may be easily and quickly transferred from the composing stick to the first elevator by simply sliding the matrix line in a direction from the composing stick toward the first elevator or in a direction'from the right toward the left in Figure 1, the matrix line being thus shifted from the full line position to the dotted line position in that figure, catching of the matrices or spacers upon the respective supporting rails in the first elevator being avoided, due to the alinement of the supporting lugs of the matrices and spacers on the composing stick with the respective supporting rails in After the line has been thus transferred from the composing stick to the first elevator, the empty composing stick may be removed by simply withdrawing it endwise from the first elevator or by moving it toward the right in Fig. 1, and after the vise frame has been returned to its normal position, the machine may be startedV and it will operate as with ordinary matrices, to cast a type bar or slug against the matrix line introduced into the machine from the composing stick, as just described. After the cast has been made, the line may be permitted to pass through the machine in the manner hereinbefore described, or the line may be removed directly from the first elevator by replacing the composing stick on the first elevator, after the latter has been swung forwardly and then shifting the matrix line by hand from the dotted line position to or toward the full line position in Fig. 1, the supporting teeth and lugs of the matrices and spacers respectively, contained in the first elevator, alining with the toothed bar 8 and rails 10 respectively on the composing stick, so that the matrices and spacers may be returned to the composing stick without catching of the matrices or spacers on the toothed bar 8 or rails 10, the toothed bar 8 or the ends.

of the teeth thereon, being preferably bev elled as at 8b to facilitate the re-engagement of the teeth of the matrices therewith, and after the matrix line has been received by the composing stick, the latter may be detached from the first elevator, by simply withdraw- Cil ingit endwise toward the right in Fig. l so as to disengage its holder 18 and the edges l5 et the plate lllroin the first elevator', and the matrices and spacers may be disassembled trom the coinposi ng sticlr by hand, by sliding` them endivise npon the bar S and rails 9, and the matrices and spacers may then be returne l to their proper places i? the cabinet or case 'troni which they were drawn. In this torni et the invention, the holder 1G will serve not only to mount, aline and support the coinposing bar with respect to the .first elevator but it also may serve as a handle Which may be grasped by the lett .hand ot the compositor' and thus provide means tor holding the composing` har while the matrix lineis being assembled thereon.

ln the embodiment o-i the invention shown in 6 to 9 inclusi re, a toothed bar SO is employed for supporting or suspending the usual standard torni ot matrices by engagement with the teeth therooi' that they hang; `trom the under side ot t ie stick, this toothed bar corresponding with the toothed bar tl in Jdie construction hereinbeitore described, but this toothed bar 80, in this forni ot the invention, serves also to support or s` spend spacers Si, the bodies of which are formed with V-shaped notches in their ripper tiges and With teeth S3 Which contorni with the teeth on the bar 8O so that the teeth 'of these spacers will interengage the teeth. on" the bar SO and such spacers Well as matrices hearing),` similar teeth on their upper edges, may be supported by the toothed bar 80. ln using' spacers ot the constrrctions j ust described, the upper supporting lugs s employed on the spacers shown in Figs. 3 and l are omitted, and instead, the bodies S2 of the spacers are formed with relatively lower supporting' lugs which are located on the saine level with the upper supporting lugs m or the matrices, as shown in Fig. 9, so that the supporting lugs S* ot the spacers as well as the upper supporting lugs m et the matrices will be adapted to be supported on the same rails 4rin the .lirst elevator. ln the en'ibodiinent oi the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the matriz; and spacer supportingg,` bar 8O is secured, by screvvs shown, or otherwise, to a plate 91 the left hand end of Which, as shovn in F G and 7., is reduced to a Width which will enable this plate to enter the grooves formel in the opposite Walls ot the mat or channel oit` the irst elevator 'immediately above the usual spacer supporting' rails 5, While the remainder or right hand portion of the plate Sl is made somewhat wider so that it will forni a shoulder or stop which is adapted to come against the right liano end ot the iirst elevator, as shown in Fig. 7, and thereby limit the extent of insertion oi the composing bar into the hrst elevator. The matrix and spacer supporting; bar 3U occupies such a height relatively to the plate Sl that when the plate 8l is inserted into the rst elevator and rests on t ie rails 5 therein, the matrices and also the spacers S2 supported on the composing stiel; by the bar 8O thereof Will occupy such a position that the loiver edges or their supporting` ears or lues m and St respon ly Will ifo level -d al led with the rails '-l in the iii-st elevator, and hence the matrix line, insindiig the matrices and spacers may be transxrrod v trein the composing stick to the lirst elevator' by simply pushiu the line endwise l toward the lett in 6 by hand, the matrices and spacers being thereby transred :trom the toothed. bar 8O ol the composp iclr to the supporting rails l in the first elevator, these rails then serving,` to support the matrices and spacers at the proper ele- The cast is made in ol spacers which Will not distribute in the usual line castingl machine, the composlr is reapplied to the first elevator by ting its reduced end into the channels or grooves for ned above the rails 5 and then sliding` the matriz( line by hand from the left toward the riglitwhereby the teeth in the notches in the upper ends of the matrices and spacers become engaged upon the toothed bar 80, and the composing stick with the matrix line thereon may be removed by simply Withdravvi the reduced end of the plate 8l thereof endrvise from the first elevator. The inatrices and spacers contained on the composing sti chy may be removed by slidingl them endvvise on the bar SO, and they may be returned to their proper l )laces in the cabinet or ease from which they Were withdrawn. ln order to iacilitate the Stringing' of the matrices and spacers on the toothed bar 80, the opposite ends of this bar, or the ends of the teeth thereon, are preferably bevelled as at a and 80D, the bevelled end 80h facilitating the placingl of the matrices and spacers on the bar 8O during,` the coinposiiro)l ot' the matrix line andthe bevelled end 80 facilitating the engagement oi' the teeth of the matrices and spacers on the bar during the transfer ofthe matrices and spacers from the nrst elevator to said bar, catching o the-matrices and pacers on the end ont this bar duringthe latter operation being thereby avoided. A scale 83, preferably gradu ated in lems and half-ems, is preferably provided alongan edge of the plate 8l to assist the compositor in detcnininingv the number of matrices that can be used in each line composed on the composing stick.

The invention is also applicable to matrices ot the kind which have no supporting teeth in their upper edges, a composing` stick adapted to receive such matrices and also the osu-tl or standard torni spacers being shown in Fig. l0. ln this embodiment of the invention, a channelled plate 90 is employed which embodies upper channels which form rails l0:L to receive the supporting lugs s of the usual standard spacers, and lower channels which form rails 91 to receive the upper supporting lugs or ears m of the matrices, the notch m3 in the upper ed-ge of the matrix being without the usual supporting teeth, so that the matrices and spacers are suspended and hang from the under side of the stick. The rails 10EL and 91 are located at such levels that they will support the lugs s of the usual spacers and the upper lugs m of the matrices to aline with and ride on to or o the' rails 5 and lrespectively in the elevator, it being understood that the composing stick may be provided with means similar to that shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, for attaching and positioning` the composing stick in the iirst elevator. and that the matrix line may be composed on the composing stick and introduced into and removed from the first elevator as described in connection with those figures.

The present invention, in each of the embodiments thereof shown, enables line casting machines of the usual or well known forms to be used for the composition ofV as much of any advertising or other matter as Vmay be possible, omitting special artistic or display lines which call for' matrices with special type faces and which are not contained in the machine, and these special lines may be composed by hand, either by' the operator of the machine or by a hand compositor, either along with the composition of the part of the matter composed on` the machine or after the composition of that matter has been completed, the matrices used in the composition of the special lines being the same in form and construction, as matrices commonly used in the machine, except that they are provided with artistic, display or other odd type forming characters and they may be stored in and withdrawnA as needed from an ordinary printers type case or any other suitable cabinet or receptacle which is preferably located conveniently to the line casting machine.

The matrices, and also spacers when such are used, are simply strung onto the composing stick in the order in which they are to appear in the printed matter, by movement of the matrices or the matrices and spacers endwise on the composing stick, and accidental dropping thereof from the composing stick is prevented by the bar or rails on the composing stick which support the matrices and spacers thereon and which permit removalV thereof only by movement of the matrices or matrices and spacers off an end of the stick. The line-measure scale on each composing stick will assist the compositor in determining the vnumber of matrices that can be used in each line.

Any number of composing sticks may be used according to the demands, and each composing stick will have a special matrix line composed thereon, and when a type bar or slug is toy be cast from any of these matrix lines, it is only necessary for the operator of the usual line casting machine to unlock and swing forwardly the usual vise frame, thereby exposing the right hand or matrix receiving end of the usual lirst elevater, to slide the end of the composing stick which is toward the beginning of thecomposed matrix line therein, into the chanu nel or space between the jaws of the first elevator, whereby the supporting lugs of the matrices or matrices and spacers are brought into alinement or register with the supporting rails or surfaces therefor in the first elevator, and to then slide the matrix line endwise until it has been removed from the composing stick and introduced into the first elevator, after which the composing stick is withdrawn endwise and thus detached from the jaws of the first elevator and the vise frame is returned to its normal upright position and locked. Starting of the machine into operation will then cause the specialV matrix line thus introduced into the first elevator to be lowered thereby to the usual casting position in front of the mold, and a type bar or slug will be cast from this matrix line in the same manner in which casts are made from matrix lines composed and assembled in the usual manner in the machine from matrices delivered` from the usual magazine or magazines in the machine.

After the cast has been made from such a special matrix line, the usual operation of the machine will cause the irst elevator to rise, thereby removing the matrix line from the casting position, and if the standard matrices and spacers are used in composing the line, the machine may be permitted to continue it operation, in which event, the matrices of the special matrix line will be passed through the distributing mechanism of the machine like the ordinary matrices contained in the machine except that they will be distinguished therefrom and will pass through the distributor to the pi-stacker of the machine, from which they may be removed at any time. It is usually preferable however, to remove the special matrix line Vfrom the lirst elevator immediately after a cast has been made therefrom, and to accomplish this, it is only necessary, in each of the embodiments herein shown, to re-insert the composing stick into the first elevator as above described, thereby alining the ma trix and spacer supporting means thereon with the supporting means on the matrices or matrices and spacers in thev first elevator,

and to slide from the matrix line endwise in a direction to remove it from the iirst elevator and to place it on the composing stick so that the matrices or matrices and spacers will be again supported thereon as they were prior to their transfer to the iirst elevator, and the composing bar may then be Withdrawn endiviso and thus detached from irst elevator7 and the matrix line on the composing stick may be disassembled and the matrices distributed into their proper compartments ol" the case or cabinet trom Which they were drawn.

The present invention thus enables type bars or slugs lor complete advertising or other matter, including the use of special matrix lines not composable from the matrices contained in the machine, to be cast in the same machine, thus avoiding errors and omissions and obviating the expense and other objections to the use oit a special machine for the casting ot the special lines, and moreover, the construction oi the composing stick is such that it Will receive and aline thereon matrices ot the usual or standard construction such as those commonly used in line casting machines ot the Well known class referred to and these matrices, Tvhen transterred from the composing stick to the usual irst elevator ot the machine are properly positioned and conducted by the first elevator to the casting position and a type bar or slug may be cast therefrom in the same manner in which slugs are cast from the matrix line composed in the usual Way in the machine, the necessity of using quad blocks and special matrices to be positioned thereby being thus avoided.

I claim as may invention l. A matrix composing stick having means ai; its under side for supporting a composed line of matrices and depending spacers thereon and embodying means to cooperate with a matrix channel ol a line casting machine and to aline the matrices and the depending spacers on the composing stick with said channel.

2. A matrix composing stick having means thereon at its under side for suspending a composed matrix line and embodying means to cooperate with a matrix channel of a line castingl machine to support said stick in alinement therewith and to aline supporting portions on the matrices on said stick with matrix supporting means in said channel.

A matrix composing stick having means' tor suspending a composed matrix line thereon so that it hangs from the under side of the stick and embodying means shaped to enter a matrix channel of a line casting machine having matrix supporting rails therein to aline supporting portions on the matrices on said stick with the supporting rails in said channel.

4l. A matrix composing stick having means at its underside Alor suspending a matrix endWise into a matrix channel in a line casting machine to support said stick at a level where the matrices thereon are alined With said channel. i

5. A matrix composing stick having means i'or supporting a matrix line thereon and having means to lit endvvise into an end ot the tirst elevator of a linev casting machine and to support said stick at a level where the supporting portions of matrices thereon are alined with the matrix supporting rails in said elevator.

6. A matrix composing stick to cooperate With the first elevator of a line casting machine, said stick having means for supporting a composed line of matrices thereon and having means to slidably enter an end of the matrix channel in said elevator and to support said stick with the matrices thereon in alinement With the channel in said elevator.

'i'. A matrix composing stick for introducing a matrix line composed thereon into the matrix channel of the first elevator ot a line casting machine, said stick embodying means tor supporting a matrix line thereon and means to emovably it into an end ot the iii-st elevator channel to support said stick in position with the matrices thereon alined with said channel.

8. A matrix composing stick for introducing a matrix line into the matrix channel of the first elevator of a line casting machine, said stick having means for supporting a matrix line containing matrices and spacers and having means movable endivise into the channel of the first elevator to support said stick and to aline supporting portions of the matrices and spacers thereon with the supporting rails therefor in said channel.

9. A matrix composino stick for introducing a matrix line into the matrix channel oi the first elevator ot a line casting machine, said stick having a toothed bar to engage and support the matrices thereon and having a portion extending longitudinally thereoin4 beyond the end oit said bar and movable end- Wise into the channel ot the first elevator to aline the matrices on the toothed bar oit said stick With said channel.

10. A matrixcomposing stick for introducing a matrix line into the matrix channel o the lirst elevator ot a line casting machine and for engaging supporting lugs on the matrices with the matrix supporting` rails in said channel, said stick having a toothed bar to engage teeth in the tops of the matrices to support them and having means at an end thereof adapted to enter an end of said first elevator channel and to support said stick With the supporting lugs on the matrices thereon alined with the matrix supporting rails in said channel.

ll. A matrix composing stick tor sembly thereon of matrices and spacers of the kind used in line casting machines, comprising a toothed bar to engage the teeth in the upper edges o1c the matrices, and a channelled member having rails to engage the outturned supporting lugs on the upper ends of the spacers.

l2. A matrix composing stick for the assembly thereon of matrices and spacers of the kind used in line casting machines, comprising a toothed bar'to engage the teeth in the upper edO'es of such matrices to support them, a channelled member having rails to engage the supporting lugs of such spacers to support them, and a holder on the stick toward one end thereof.

13. A matrix composing` stick for introducing a matrix line containing matrices and spacers into the matrix channel between the jaws of the first elevator of a line casting machine and for engaging the supporting lugs on the matrices and spacers with supporting rails in said channel, said stick comprising means on which the matrices and spacers are movable endvvise for supporting them, and a holder on the stick movable into a position between the elevator jaws and operative to support the stick at a level where the supporting lugs on the matrices and spacers are alined with the respective supporting rails in the matrix channel.

14. A matrix composing stick for introducing a matrix line into the matrix channel of a line casting machine and for engaging supporting lugs on matrices and spacers with supporting rails therefor in said channel, said stick embodying a toothed bar to engage teeth in the tops of the matrices and thereby support them and rails to engage the supporting lugs of `spacers to support them, and means on the stick for mounting it on the irst elevator at a level Where the supporting lugs of the matrices and spacers are alined With the respective supporting rails in the elevator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. Y

HERMAN R. FREUND. 

